Propelling device for skiers and the like



July 31, 1962 c. A. KRYLOV 3,047,302

PROPELLING DEVICE FOR SKIERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 4. 1960 INVENTOR Constantin v4. Krqlov I WwlM ATTORNEY tree The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to propelling devices for skiers and the like, and has for its primary object to provide a relatively light-weight and inexpensive structure which may be held by the operator and caused to provide a substantial thrust when the wind impinges against a rotor mounted on the structure and causes a rotation of the same.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel construction of a light-weight rotor in which the blades are formed of a skeletal structure covered by a flexible sheathing, such as plastic or woven fabric.

A still further object of the invention consists in providing light-weight rotor blades in which the skeletal structure may be formed of skipoles to which are fixed a plurality of spaced wing spars of aerodynamic profile for supporting and shaping the sheathing of the blade.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the novel propelling device in use;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the propelling device;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of one of the propeller blades with parts broken away to more clearly show its internal construction;

FIGURES 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are enlarged detail sectional views through various parts of one of the blades taken on the lines 4-4, 55, 66, 7-7 and 8-8, respectively, of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged detail sectional View through the bearing and related parts; and

FIGURES 10 and 11 are enlarged detail sectional views through the bearing structures forming part of the present invention taken on the lines 10-10 and 11--11, respectively, of FIGURE 9.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference numerals, the blades, of which there are two, are indicated generally by the numeral 1 and are formed with leading edges 2 and trailing edges 3. Each blade is preferably composed of a hollow tubular pole 4, preferably an ordinary ski po-le from which the usual basket is removed, the pole thus being analogous to the longitudinal frame members or spars of the wings of conventional aircraft. This pole, as clearly indicated in FIG. 3, is provided with a series of spaced washers 5 which are fixed to the pole and are provided with rectangular exterior surfaces on which are mounted five crossbars or ribs 6, each having an aerodynamic profile, as shown in FIG. 8. These crossbars or ribs and the pole itself are preferably formed of durable light-weight alloys, and the crossbars or ribs are provided with cut-out portions 7 to further lighten them. The skeletal wing-form thus provided is covered with a flexible, light-weight covering material 6, such as elastic plastic or a woven fabric. In

either event, this sheathing material is shaped to snugly engage over the wing crossbars or ribs 6 and terminates in integral tabs 8. The leading and trailing edges of the ceives a nut 19, and a shoulder 20 which impinges against the casing of thrust bearing 14.

The outer end of shaft 17 is provided with a transverse sleeve or tubular portion 21 in which is fixed a tube 22,

to the outer ends of which are attached the blades 1 in a manner which will now be described.

' Each of the blades 1 is mounted on an end of the transverse rod 22 so that the pitch of the blades may be readily adjusted as desired. To this end, an externally threaded washer 23 is fixed to each end of rod 22 to form a head and is provided with teeth on its outer face for cooperation with similar teeth on the inner face of a washer 24 which is fixed to the inner end of a stub shaft 25 to form ahead. The teeth on these two heads 23 and 24 may be caused to'engage or disengage by means of a nut 26 which is internally threaded and adapted to engage the exterior threads on the head 23, the nut 26 being in the form of an internally theraded sleeve and having an in-' wardly directed flange on one end thereof as clearly seen in FIGURE 9.

Each of the stub shafts 25 is of rectangular cross-section and is provided with a pair of wings 27 and a transverse aperture 28. The apertured end of each of the stub shafts 25 is received in a hollow portion 29 of the inner end of the ski pole, i.e. the handle of the ski pole or the like 4. This hollow portion is provided with an aperture to be aligned with the aperture 28 of the stub shaft 25 to receive a cotterpin 30 for releasably securing these parts together. The sheathing which covers the several wing crossbars of each blade is secured in position by attaching the tabs 8, heretofore referred to, to the wings 27, as clearly indicated in FIGURE 9, which shows the tabs passing through slots 31 in the wings and secured to themselves by snap fasteners or the like 32.

The hand grips for use in supporting the bearing and wings carried thereby are indicated by the numeral 33 and are provided with enlargements 34 on their inner ends which are slidably received in sockets 35 mounted on opposite sides of the casing 11. A ring 36 slidably mounted on the casing 11 serves to removably secure the handles in position in the sockets 35, and this ring carries a setscrew 37 for securing the ring in locking position on the casing.

In the operation of the device, the pitch of the wings or blades may be adjusted in the manner heretofore indicated to take advantage of the particular circumstances under which the propelling device is being used, and the operator then supports the apparatus in front of him by means of the handles 33, it being understood that the descending a steep slope. The propelling device as illustrated herein is of extremely light weight andrnay be' readily dismantled by loosening the setscrew 37, removing the cotterpin 30, and releasing the snap fasteners 32, whereby the handgrips 33, sheathing 6', wing crossbars or ribs 6, etc., may be packaged to facilitate carrying or storage until again required for use.

-In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described what I now consider to be the preferred form of the invention, but inasmuch as various minor changes may be made in structural details without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is intended that all such changes be included within the scope of the appended .claims.

I claim:

1. A propelling device 'for skiers and the like comprising a bearing and its housing, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, a pair of propeller blades fixed to the forward end of the shaft, each blade comprising a ski pole, a series of crossbars spaced along each pole, each crossbar having an aerodynamic profile, a fabric sheath covering each series of crossbars thereby providing blades having the cross-sectional shape of conventional airplane wings, and a pair of hand grips projecting outwardly of the housing for said hearing at positions to be gripped by a skier using the device whereby the skier may be ing a rod and a series of crossbars spaced along its length,

each crossbar having an aerodynamic profile, a fabric sheath covering each series of crossbars thereby providing blades having the cross-sectional shape'of conventional airplane wings, and a pain of hand grips securedto said blade-forms each comprising an elongated member defining a spar and a series of ribs of aerodynamic profile fixed to said spar in spaced relation longitudinally thereof, means for anchoring said spars to said shaft, said means being angularly adjustable to permit the, pitch of said I blade-forms to be changed, covers of sleeve-like flexible material to form skins for said blades, said covers each being closed at one end and open at the other to permit the .covers .to be drawn .over a blade-form or removed,

therefrom, and means on the open end of said cover for tying the same to said blade-form when the cover is in operative position on saidform.

, References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 68,768 McKinney Sept. 10, 1867 915,677 Johnson Mar. 16, 1909 1,799,664 Williams Apr. 7, 1931 1,878,816 Bucklen a"--- Sept. 2-0, 1932 2,152,984 Wilford "a, Apr. 4, 1939 2,440,292 Pitcairn et al. Apr. 27, 1948 2,456,440 Morrill Dec. 14, 1948 Porter Dec. 16, 1958 UNITED STATESVPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,047,302 July 31 1962 Constantin A. Krylov It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 17, for "hearing" read bearing column 4. list of references cited, add the following:

FOREIGN PATENTS 62,963 Netherlands -Apr. l5, 19 9 Signed and sealed this 20th day of November 1962.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

